Shoe cleaner



June 5, 1962 R. E. ELLIS 3,037,225

SHOE CLEANER Filed June 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 :IIN VENTE] I1 HUBERTE. ELLIS ATTE Fl N EY R. E. ELLIS 3,037,225

sHoE CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 5, 1962 Filed June 8, 1960 ELLI; EYW@L M-2;#

NVENTEE RDEERT E.

.NLD man :ATTDRNEY E I uuuuuum R. l.; ELLIS June '5, 1962 SHOE CLEANERFiled June 8, 1960 I-[N VENT/D R REBER-V E. EYWQ Mw jF'El-lo IFI E.: 9

3,037,225 Patented June 5, 1962 Free 3,037,225 SHQE CLEANER Robert E.Ellis, 7% E. School St., Centerville, Ind. Filed .lune 8, 1960, Ser. No.34,739 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-37) This invention relates to a mechanicaldevice automatically operating upon a person standing upon a piuralityof brushes for cleaning the undersides of the soles of shoes.

The device would normally be positioned adjacent and opening into anoiiice or a room, `or at any place where it is desired that the shoes becleaned before mud which might have been on them would be tracked into aroom or other space.

A primary purpose .of the invention resides in the fact that shoes willbe cleaned by a person stepping on the brush area, whereupon the brusheswill start moving to brush o the shoes from their undersides, and thedevice will quit operating when the weight of the perosn is removed fromthat area.

A further important Iobject of the invention is to provide such a devicein an extremely simple and yet durable operating mechanism. A stillfurther important object of the invention resides in providing means forpreventing freezing of the device in below freezing weather.

A still further important object of the invention resides in the factthat even the shoes of women having spike heels may be cleaned withoutthe heels becoming engaged in or entangled in the brushing mechanism.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent in the one particular form of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a view in top plan `of a structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in top plan and partial section of the device with thetop cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical transverse section from the end of thedevice and on the line 4 4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5` is a view in vertical section in detail of a brush supportingbar spring mounting;

FIG. 6 is a view in bottom plan of the device;

FIG. 7 is a detail in top plan view of a short length of a brush member;

FIG. 8 is a view in vertical section on the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view of the wiring diagram in pictorial representation andFiG. l0 is a detail in transverse vertical section through a motorswitch operating device.

A generally rectangular box 1) is provided at one end 11 with a pair ofspaced apart brackets 12 and 13 ixed to the opposite side walls of thebox. Each of these brackets is generally C-shaped, and receives the endof a support bar 14. The support bar 14 has an end portion 15, one ateach end, entering the brackets 12 and 13, and there is a pin 16 downthrough each bracket slidingly passing through the ends 15, and througha compression spring 17, FIG. 5, and on into the lower portion of thebracket in each instance. The support bar 14 thus is urged upwardly towithin the limits of the opening in the brackets by means of the spring17. The pin 16 in each instance retains the bar 14 in alignmentapproximately parallel with the end 11 of the box 10.

A second pair of like brackets 19 and 2t) are iixed to the side walls ofthe box at a distance from the first pair 12, 13, herein shown as beingspaced beyond the transverse center of the box 10. A support bar 21 issupported by the brackets 19 and 20 in the same manner as is the supportbar 1d in its brackets.

A plurality of parallel aligned shafts 22 extend between and rockablythrough the two supporting bars 14 and 21. Each of these shafts 22extends through a brush holder body 23, FIG. 8, substantially throughoutthe entire length of each shaft between the two bars 14 and 21. Thesebodies 23 are fixed to the shafts 22 in each instance so that the bodies23 will rock when the shafts 22 rock or rotate.

Each body 23 carries a rectangular groove across its upper side, FIG. 8,and a brush holder 24 is fricti-onally carried within the groove whichisby the numeral 25. These brush carriers 24 may thus be replaced fromtime to time as the brushes may wear. Preferably, each brush holderextends not more than one-half the length of the body 23, so that, FIG.2, the brush holders may be staggered, every other body 23 having abrush holder with bristles 26 extending to approximately the center ofthe distance between the two supporting bars 14 and 21.

A post 27 is xed to the underside of each body 23 and extends downwardlyto be iixed in a trunnion block 28, FIG. 3. A pin 29 is xed in eachtrunnion block 28 to extend from one side thereof, rockably through areciprocating bar 3G. This bar is of that length which will extendthroughout the length of the supporting bars 14 and 21, FIG. 3. The bar30 is maintained in its rocking connections with the various pins 29 byany suitable means, herein shown as by cotter pins 31. A compressionspring 32 is preferably provided to surround the endmost post 27 toyieldingly abut by its opposing ends the undersides of the supportingbars 14 and 21 in the topside of the reciprocating bar 3i). Thisnormally maintains the bar 3i) in that position where the posts 27 willbe Vertically disposed, and in any event will take up lost motionbetween the two bars so as to reduce noise and give a smoother workingaction.

There is a transverse plate 33 extending across the box 1a spaced fromthe supporting bar 21 and the reciprocating bar 30. A motor 34 ismounted Within the box 10, FG. 2, and through any suitable transmissionmeans, herein shown as a belt 35, a shaft 36 is rotated. This shaft 36is extended through the plate 33 and xedly engages the free end of acrank arm 37, FIG. 3.

A connecting rod 38 has one end rockaoly engaged to the opposite end ofthe crank arm 37, FIG. 3, and its other end in a rocker head 39 rockablysupported on the reciprocating bar 30. Thus when the motor 34 operates,the reciprocating bar 3) will be reciprocated trans- Versely of the box1t), and consequently the brushes 26 will rock to and fro in unison. Therocking of these brushes of course is centered at the axes of the shafts22. These brushes being spaced apart, oier openings therebetween. Theseopenings are enclosed by shields 40 and 41 fixed to the sides of theupper portion of the bodies 23, FIG. 8. These shields 40 and 41 haveupper convex surfaces substantially at their highest points at the lowerends of the exposed bristles 26. For cleaning purposes, each of theshields 40 and 41 is preferably provided with a series of holes 42therethrough.

There is la tloor spa-ced below the brushes within the box 10. Thisfloor is `designated by the numeral 43 and this iloor 43 slopes from anupper position as indicated in FIG. 4 to drain over an edge 45 into -atrough 46 which slopes from one side of the box to the other side andhas drain holes i7 therethrough .at the lowermo-st zone, these holes 47opening up into a drain tube 48. Any dirt and water lbeing removed fromshoes falls onto the iloor 43, yand when sufficient moisture is present,will be Washed down into the trough l45 and out through the waste ordrain tube t3/to be conducted to yany suitable place. Normally theIdevice will be ilushed out by any suitable means such as by a hose inorder to remove the accumulated dirt.

A switch box 49 is mounted on the door 43 about midway of the lengths ofthe bodies 23, FIG. 2. A push button Si), FIG. 9, extends upwardly fromthe box 49 to operate the switch therein. This switch is not shownherein in detail other than in the diagrammatic form in FIG. 9 since itis of the usual and conventional quick acting type. There is an arcuatepush plate fixed to the under side of that body 23a which passes acrossthe box 49. The button t) is centered centrally of the body 23a, andthe-re is shoe 5l iixed to the under side of the body 23a to be over thebutton 50 and normally spaced therefrom by means of the springs underthe ends of the support bars 3.4 and 2l. When the individual steps ontothe brushes, the resistance of the springs holding the supporting bars14 and 21 upwardly is overcome so that the various `bodies 23 arelowered, and in so doing, the body 23a, brings the shoe Si down againstthe button 50 and closes the switch therein. Closure of this switchcloses a circuit from a power line S2 through the motor 34 and startsthe bodies 23 to roel; back and forth so that the bristles 26 will brushthe under sides of the shoes in a reciprocating manner. When theindividual steps oli of the device, the springs under the ends of thesupporting bars 14 and 21 will return the brushes to their uppermostpositions, and lift thc shoe 51 from the switch button 5G and thus openthe switch to stop the motor 34.

Since the device will work in the wintertime to clean snow off of shoesas well as mud and dust in the summertime or in above freezing weather,snow dropping off of the shoes down between the bristles 26 and thebodies 23 would normally accumulate on the oor 43 and freeze thereon. lnorder to overcome that freezing action, the under side of the door 43carries a heating element 54, having a thermostatic element 55 in thecircuit, FIG. 6, the thermostat element 55 normally being open inweather above a temperature of 32 degrees and closing the circuit whenthe temperature drops thercbelow. Thus the licor 43 is automaticallywarmed by the heating coil 54. The coil 54 is also wraped around thedrain tube 48 to prevent freezing therein.

There is a grating 60 fixed over the lbox 10. This grating 60 has slots61 therethrough dened by the intervening bars 62, are coextensive Withthe lengths of the brushes 26, and sufciently wide to permit the rockingof the brushes 26 without hindrance from the margins of the slots. Theguards 46 and 41 are under those bars 62, and rock in close proximity tothe bars.

Therefore it is to be seen that 1I have provided a very simple but mosteffective combination for cleaning the soles and edges thereof of shoes,with a minimum number of elements, providing a `durable andcomparatively low cost device. While I have herein shown the device inthe one particular form, l do not desire to be limited to that preciseform `beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the followingclaims, in View of the fact that mechanical variations in parts may beemployed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l claim:

1. A shoe cleaner comprising a plurality of elongated bristle brushes;elongated bodies holding the brushes in laterally spaced apart rows; apair of body support bars rockably carrying said bodies therebetween;means carrying said bars confining the bars to vertical travel; saidcarrying means including means yieldingly maintaining the bars atuppermost positions; a ixed grating having longitudinal slots throughwhich the bristles of said brushes extend; a post dependng from each ofsaid bodies; a rock bar; means rockably engaging said posts with saidrock bar; a drive shaft; means eccentrically engaging said rock bar withsaid drive shaft; whereby the rotation of said drive shaft causes saidrock bar to reciprocate such that said brush bodies are rocked to andfro; a motor for driving said shaft; an electric switch having anactuating member; ra shoe member xed to the underside of one of saidelongated bodies and being located in the path of said actuating memberwhereby the downward travel of said brushes causes said actuating memberto close said switch and to energize said motor; said motor and saidelectric switch being electrically interconnected in a power circuit.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which there is a shoe heel shield carriedon sides of said bodies below upper ends of said bristles and under saidgrating, eliectually closing the spaces between said brushes, and, withsaid brushes, said slots.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which there is a shaft extending from theends of each of said elongated bodies rotatively engaged by said bodysupporting bars; and said carrying means comprising a bracket receivingends of the supporting bars therein; said vertical travel confiningmeans comprising a guide vertically directed and retaining the bar endsin said vertical travel; and said yielding means comprising springscarried by the brackets, said bar ends resting on the springs.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said posts extend downwardly oneeach from said elongated bodies and at common ends thereof; said bodiesbeing grooved longitudinally along their upper sides; and said brusheshave bristle holders frictionally retained in said grooves againstlongitudinal travel therealong.

5. A shoe cleaning device operated by shoe pressure thereagainstcomprising a support generally box-shaped and having a lioor thereinsloping toward drain means; a grating having spaced apart bars coveringthe support and above said floor; a pair of brackets, one at each sideof the box adjacent one end thereof; a second pair of brackets spacedalong the box from said end; a support bar shiftably carried by eachsaid pair of brackets and confined to vertical travel; spring meanscarried by the brackets supporting the bars at an uppermost degree ofsaid travel; a plurality of side-by-side spaced apart bodies; a brushunit carried by each of said bodies with bristles extending upwardlytherefrom between said grating bars; rocker pins extending from ends ofthe bodies; said support bars having bearings receiving said pinsthereby supporting and maintaining the spacing apart of the bodies; aconnecting bar pivotally interconnecting said bodies at common distancesfrom the axes of said pins; electrical drive means longitudinallyreciprocating said connecting bar; switch means controlling saidelectrical drive means; said switch means being actuated by downtravelof said bodies.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which there is a shoe member on one ofsaid bodies having an arcuate under surface maintaining substantially aconstant pressure on said switch means during depression of said onebody.

7. The structure of claim 5 in which there is a shoe heel shield fixedto sides of said bodies extending laterally therefrom under said gratingbars, forming in combination with said brushes a closure between thegrating bars at all degrees of rocking of the bodies.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,577,294 Aben Dec. 4, 1951 2,647,271 Ryzenga Aug. 4, 1953 2,649,599Leadingham Aug. 25, 1953 2,860,366 Kemp Nov. 18, 1958 FORETGN PATENTS550,444 Germany May 14, 1932 146,453 Austria .luly 10, 1936

